Method of manufacturing rubberized fiber composition



Fatented Feb. 12, 1924.

barren srai'rss I v teases ?ATENT crates.-

PAUL BEEBE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TEE GOODYEAR TIRE & BUEBER COM-1 PANY, F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATIGN OF OHIO.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BUBBEBIZED FIBER 003$?QSITI9N.

I No iii-swing.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PAUL BEEBE, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Akron, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements inMethods of Manufacturing Rubberized Fiber Composition, of which thefollowing is a'specification.

My invention relates to a process of manufacturing a material capable ofman useful applications, such as for floor or we lowerin s, as asubstitute for leather, or for any ot er purpose to which a tough,flexible, s

fibrous, porous, water-resistant body may be adapted. More specifically,my invention comprises so treating a quantity of matted rubber coveredfibers as to render the resulting product extremely flexible.

The object of my invention is to provide a binding agent for thefiberswhich shall provide coatings for the individual fibers and shallalso provide layers of flexible material intermediate the adjacentlydisposed fibers so as to permit a relative movement therebetween with aminimum amount of friction.

In practicing my invention, the fibers are first beaten and separated inany suitable manner, such as by a Clafiin beater, after which they aremixed in a solution consisting of rubber and a rubber solvent, such, forexample, as 'toluol. The mixture is then treated with any one of anumber of agents, which subsequently serves to cause jellation thereof.This may be accomplished by mixving with the fiber-rubber-solventmixture a quantity of sulphur dioxide and a quantit of hydrogensiilphide. These gases are a mitted in approximately the roportionsof 30cc. of sulphur dioxide an 60 cc. of hy- 40 drogen sulphide for each gramof rubber present. After,the addition of the hydrogen sulphide, sulphurdioxide is again added to the mixture, approximately 240 cc. for eachgram of rubber being added at this time. After a period of approximatelyone hour has elapsed, an ad ltional quantity of hydrogen sulphide isadded to the mixture, approximately 800 cc. per gram of rubber in themixture.

The rubber in the mixture is then precipitated upon the fibers containedtherein, either by the addition of a rubber recipitant, such as alcoholor acetone, or y suitable control of the temperature of the mixas ture,or in any other desired manner. After I agent having similar pro erties.

Application filed November 4, 1922, Serial No. 599,148.

the rubber has been precipitated on the fibers, they are arranged into amat formation by means of a Fourdrinier machine, or any other matforming device, which serves to remove any excess liquid therefrom,

After the material hasbeen formed into a mat with the excess liquidremoved there from, it is immersed in amixture in which a rubber solventpredominates and ermitted to remain in that condition u'nti a solid jellis ,formed, the hydrogen sulphide and ul hur dioxide cooperating toproduce the jel ation and also producing a slow cure of the rubber.After a suitable jell has been produced, the resulting mixture istreated 10 with alcohol which serves to displace the solvent containedin the rubber and cause itto shrink upon the fibers. This serves todeposit a thin coating of rubber on each of the individual fibers andalso intermediate the adjacent fibers, thus eliminating any frictionwhich would develop it the fibers were in direct contact. The rubberserves as a resilient binder and lubricant between adjacent fibers. Thispermits of freedom of movement of the fibers with respect to each otherupon the applicationof a ver slight force, thus producing a very fiexile ma terial. The material is dried after passing through the jellationand rubber shrinking as processes. The cure of the rubber is brou ht.about by the interaction of the sulp ur dioxide and hydrogen sulphidealready contained in the mixture and which are instrumental in producingjellation of the fibers. In shrinking the rubber upon the fibers, it isadvisable to employ first a mixture in which the alcohol or other rubberprecipitant predominates by a relatively small percentage, and toemploy, subsequently, mixtures of gradually increasing ercentages ofalcohol.

Jellation of the ru ber coated fibers may be produced by the use ofsulphur chloride, zinc ethyl xanthate, or any other suitable Although Ihave descri ed in detail but a single form which my invention mayassume, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is notsolimited, but that various minor modifications and changes may be madetherein without departin from the s irit of m invention, or from t escope of t e appen ed claims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of making a rubberized no fibrous material which consistsin depositing a quantity of rubber on a quantity of fibers, permittingthe resultant mass to jell, and treating it with means for causingshrinkage of the rubber.

2. The method of making a rubberized- 'treating said fibers with ajelling agent, and

subsequently treating them with alcohol.

4. The method of making a fibrous ma terial which consists inassociating a quantity of fibers and a quantity of rubber in solution,precipitating the rubber upon the fibers, causing jellation of saidrubber and said fibers and treating the resultant mass with alcohol.

5. The method of making a fibrous material which consists in associatinga quantity of fibers and a quantity of rubber in solution, precipitatingthe rubber uponthe fibers, causing jellation of said rubber and saidfibers, and treating the resultant mass with a rubber precipitant. I

6. The method of making a rubberized fibrous material which consists inmixing a quantity of fibers and a rubber solution, precipitating therubber upon the fibers, straining the rubber coated fibers from theliquid causing the same to jell, and treating the resulting mass withmeans for shrinking the rubber around the fibers,

7. The method of making a rubberized fibrous material which consists inmixing together a quantity of fibers and a mixture of rubber and rubbersolvent, precipitating the rubber upon the fibers, straining the sasasse8. The method of making a rubberizedfibrous material which consists inmixing together a quantity of fibers, a quantity of rubber solution anda jelling agent, precipitating the rubber upon the fibers, straining thefibers from the liquid and permitting them to jell, and treating themwith alcohol.

9. The method of making a rubberized fibrous material which consists inmixing together a quantity of fibers, a quantity of rubber solution,sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, precipitating the rubber upon thefibers, straining the fibers from the liquid and permitting them tojell, and treating them with alcohol.

10. The method of making a rubberized fibrous material which consists inmixing together a quantity of. fibers, a quantity of rubber solution, acuring agent, precipitating the rubber upon the fibers, straining thefibers from the liquid and permitting them to jail, and treating themwith alcohol.

11. The method of makin a rubberized fibrous material which consists inmixing together a quantity of fibers, a quantity of rubber solution,sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, precipitating the rubber upon thefibers, straining the fibers from the liquid and immersing them in arubber solvent mix until a solid jell forms, and treating the jelledmass with alcohol.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto si ned my name in the presence oftwo su scribing witnesses.

PAUL BEEBE. Witnesses:

' F. E. Joan,

FRED A. LIND.

